Resisting the temptation to resort to clichés,
Platte City Police Chief Joe McHale told the Platte
City Board of Aldermen on Tueday evening that
the city's stray dog and cat situation had gotten
seriously out of hand.

"We did nothing but pick up dogs today.
This is a serious issue to me now," McHale
said, lamenting the loss of manpower.

"We are going to write citations. No mercy.
No breaks.

McHale stopped short of recommending the creation
of a full-time animal control officer position,
but urged the board to consider a fee for each
pet the city had to pick up and an increase in
annual pet fees.

Currently, the city charges $3 per year to license
a cat or dog in the city. According to city statutes,
any unlicensed dog or cat captured by the city
can be destroyed. Unless a specific law regarding
animal control is passed in the future, owners
of problem pets could be subjected to the general
penalty statute of Platte City and subjected to
fines up to $500.